Apparatus for melting and mixing metals in vacuums.



W. s. SIMPSON.

APPARATUS FOR MELTING AND MIXING METALS IN VAOUUMS.

v APPLICATION FILED MAY5.'1911.

1 015 091 Patented Jan.16,1912.

- 2 SHEETSSHEET l.

Z; fizes 6 e13, fiveiziibj W. S. SIMPSON. v

APPARATUS FOR MELTING AND MIXING METALS IN VACUUMS.

APPILIOATION FILED MAY 5, 1911. 1,915,091 Patented Jan.16,1912

2 SHEETS-SHEBT 2.

W i a UNITED sTATEs- PATENT OFFICE.

=W1'LLIA srnms SIMPSON, or'Loivnou, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR 'MELTING' AND MIXING METALS IN.VA(JUU.'L\L[S.

To all whom it mag concern.

Be it known that 1, WILLIA SPEIRS SiMrsozv, a subject of the King ofGreat Britain, residing at London, Englafid, have invented certain. newand useful Improve ments in Connection with Apparatus for Melting andMixing Metals in Vacuums, of

which the following is a specification.

1 This invention relates to apparatus for. melting and mixing metals inoacuo of the kind in which electrical heat is used for meltingthe'metals, and the objectis to construct an improved apparatus for suchpurpose and for removing 'volatilizable impurities from certain metalswhich are easily oxidi'zable if fused'in contact with atmospheric airsuch as aluminium, magnesium, calcium and the like with which itisdesirable to form useful alloys;'by which means also the hithertounavoidable oxidation and deterioration of such metals while in a moltenstate is. prevented and the effective mixing and-alloying thereof underthemost favorable conditions is accomplished; the

result afi'ording a purifiedmetal or alloy of" uniformly superiorqualityand strength in carrying out my invent1on I construct areceptacleor chamber preferably metallic,-

of suitable size, shape and dimensions wherein a comparatively highvacuum may be created and maintained by means of a vacuum pump in anyconvenient manner. Inside such chamber is placed a crucible made ofrefractory or carbonaceous material for containing the metals to betreated,

which metals are heated by means of an electrie'current applied to thetop and bottom of the crucible. 1

The most efiective and economical form of ap'paratussuitable 'for mypurposes is shown 11). the drawings hereto attached, Figurel being asectional'elevation and Fig. 2.

an elevation of the apparatus part sectional. The eaterlor of the vacuumchamber or furnace A is made of? metal and mounted on trunnions B toallow of its being tilted ,sufiiciently to peer out the contents. A. re-

movable top or cover Cis provided together w1th suitable means ofhermetically sealing the vacuum chamber or furnace A therewith.

- Within this chamber A there is placed a receptacle D in the form of acrucible or cylindrical vessel made of refractory material, preferablycarbonaceous, such as Wlll afiord adequate resistance to electriccurrents. The space between the exterior walls thereof and ISpecification of Letters Patent;

Application filed May 5,1911. serial no. 625,286. U E D the metallicvacuum chamber is filled with Patented Jan. 16,3912.

.a heat resisting and nonconducting mate-v rial, such as magnesite. Tothe open top of this crucible D there is suitably attached .a metallicring'E which is provided'wit-h by means ofrods F, G, connecting the ringtrunnion B of the stand-I. In similar manner another "metallic ring orplate J also internally water cooled is placed under the bottom of suchcrucible and furnishes the other electric terminal through the rods K,L, connecting such plates J with'the other lead wire M. Electric energyis applied through the terminals E and J above described while a vacuumis being maintained within the inclpsing vacuumchamber; under whichconditions a zone of intense heat is produced midway between themetallic terminals E, J and throughout the circumference of the crucibleD and the'metallic substances contained therein. The generagreat economyof power and the Whole 0pveration belng ""carried on in cacao the damagetoplant or'loss by oxidation of the itself or the internal componentparts of the apparatus is to a great extent obviated.

ltleans are provided for the mechanical stirring or mixing of the moltenmetal or metals in the crucible and also for the intro duction ofpurifying substances or any n'ietalsrequired for alloying purposes, by arod or) shaft. N introduced through the cover C of the vacuum chamberand suit-ably fitted to move up and down or in a rotary manner to stirthb molten metals in the crucible without breaking the vacuum. To thisrod N a clip I is attached for holding any substance required to besubmerged in the molten contents of he crucible during the operation. Qis the pipe connecting the vacuum chamberw-ith the suction pump and R isa pipe for admitting air to break vacuum when required.

contents of the crucible or of the cruciblemeans of internal cooling bya circulation". of water which ring E forms one of the bettery terminalsfor the"application of elec U tric energy to the crucible and itscontents,

E and the lead wire H through one hollow tion of electrical heat is thusell'ected with I the crucible.

' into heat energy, the crucible having aiiopen the" combination of avacuum chamber, a

during movement of the rod T. The removable; cover C is preferablyprovided with suitable pressure-tight observation Windows C and alsoWith a'lifting yoke or handle C whereby the cover may be removed withfacility during charging and emptying of the apparatus.

What I do declare as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentis 1.. Apparatus for melting, mixing and treating metals embodying ahollow crucible composed of refractory material possessing the propertyof'conducting and oilering resistance to the passage of an electriccurrent to thereby convert directed electrical energy chamber to receiveand contain the metals to be treated, means for connecting electricalconductors to the top and bottom of such crucible, and a vacuum chamberinclosing In apparatus of the character described,"

crucible inclosed therein having an interior chamber to eontain'a chargeof material to be treated and embodying means for heating it, and anadjustable device operable from the exterior of said chamber andextendinginto the chamber said device being provided with means forintroducing purifying substances or metals for alloying purposes intosaid chamber Within the crucible and also operative as a stirrer ormixer.

1n apparatus of the character described, the combination of a vacuumchamber com prising body portion and cover emovably related thereto andadapted to a fluid-tight- CO} action with the body pi .twn, a cruciblecontained Within the body l and having a chamber to contain a ch ,3 ofthe material to be treated hav 1g an opening leading tl'iereto, and acarried by and. extending movably through the cover and bearing a clipon its inner end, said device being movable in alinei'nent with and intosaid opening and cham er the crucible While the cover is applied to thebody portion.

l. 1n apparatus of the character described, the combination of a vacuumchamber com.- prising a. body portion having trunnions or mounting ittiltably; and cover reinev applied. to the upper end at ted to t'orin ailuid-tigl'it connection there?" 1. a crucible contained vithin andcarried by the body portion and having an in chamber to contain a chargeof material to be treated and hat is mouth- 27a;- toward the top oi bodypertion, means for conducti 1 eating nedii. the crucible thror' atrunmons or tiltably mounted body portion.

in testimony whereoi" have hereunto set my hand 121 presence oi twosubscribing Witnesses.

WELLI l Witnesses i H. Ov'm'rr, Riel-man loan Sumner,

